What most struck me as I got into the flow of Darren Rix and Craig Cormick's book Warra Warra Wai: How Indigenous Australians discovered Captain Cook, and what they tell about the coming of the Ghost People was that I was reading something that felt like a model for a new way of telling Australia's … Continue reading Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai
First Nations Australia literature
Corey Tutt and Irma Gold, with Jessica Tedim, Come home Bigibila (#BookReview)
The recently published children's picture book, Come home Bigibila, is a gorgeous book for several reasons, but the most important of these is that it's a good read. If it weren't that, the other reasons would fade away! So, let's start there. Come home Bigibila tells the story of Bigibila, a baby echidna who is … Continue reading Corey Tutt and Irma Gold, with Jessica Tedim, Come home Bigibila (#BookReview)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Land TO …
Usually, I have my Six Degrees post scheduled in advance, but this month I kept putting it off, partly because I'd start down one path and not like it only to start down another that turned out equally unappealing. I think I like what I ended up with - well enough anyhow! I wonder whether … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Land TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Magabala’s reading list for “50 Years Deadly”
NAIDOC Week 2026 finished yesterday, but, as I sometimes do, I am bookending the week with NAIDOC-dedicated Monday Musings. For this year's concluding one, I'm sharing the reading list selected by Magabala to support this theme. They wrote on their Facebook Page that the theme: marks a significant milestone: five decades of strength, Culture, resilience … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Magabala’s reading list for “50 Years Deadly”
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations children’s picture books
NAIDOC Week 2026 started yesterday, and as has become my tradition, I am devoting my NAIDOC Week Monday Musings to celebrating First Nations writers in some way. Each year has a theme, and for 2026 it is "50 Years Deadly", celebrating five decades in which NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of First Nations communities. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations children’s picture books
Six degrees of separation, FROM Yesteryear TO …
Tomorrow, July 5, is the start of this year's NAIDOC Week in Australia. This year's theme is 50 Years of Deadly, commemorating 50 years of NAIDOC, but I'll do more on that in my traditional NAIDOC Week Monday Musings. Meanwhile, I have decided to dedicate this month's #SixDegrees to First Nations writing. If you don't … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Yesteryear TO …
ACT Literary Awards 2026
Last night, I attended the presentation of the ACT Literary Awards (as I have attended for the last few years). These awards are made by Marion (previously, the ACT Writers Centre), and were again emceed by CEO, Katy Mutton, and Board Chair, Emma Batchelor. The dress code was "Smart Casual to Creative Cocktail Attire". Ms … Continue reading ACT Literary Awards 2026
Tasma Walton, I am Nannertgarrook
As we got ready for our recent Melbourne trip, I was thinking about the then upcoming announcement of the Stella Prize shortlist, so I packed the two longlisted books I already had. But then, en route, we listened to the Secrets of the Green Room interview with Tasma Walton about her longlisted novel, I am … Continue reading Tasma Walton, I am Nannertgarrook
Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker, Spirit of the crocodile (#Bookreview)
Aaron Fa'Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker's Spirit of the crocodile is a children's/YA book, which makes it atypical reading for me. However, I'm not averse breaking my rules occasionally, and so I made an exception for this book - mainly because of its collaborative authorship and its setting. Aaron Fa'aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker have … Continue reading Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker, Spirit of the crocodile (#Bookreview)
Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 6, Poems of love and rage
Evelyn Araluen, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Omar Musa with Jacqui Malins The program described the session as follows: An electrifying highlight of this year’s program, our poetry panel features some of Australia’s most acclaimed and innovative poets putting love and rage on the page. Overland Poetry Prize winner Evelyn Araluen (The Rot) joins Maxine Beneba … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 6, Poems of love and rage
Whispering Gums 